OSHA is focusing on reducing trenching and excavation hazards. Trench collapses, or cave-ins, pose the greatest risk to workers’ lives. To prevent cave-ins:

• SLOPE or bench trench walls
• SHORE trench walls with supports, or
• SHIELD trench walls with trench boxes

Employers should also ensure there is a safe way to enter and exit the trench. Keep materials away from the edge of the trench. Look for standing water or atmospheric hazards. Never enter a trench unless it has been properly inspected.